Water Works Superintendent Grant Swindall on Tuesday night told city council members the city's water was runner-up in the Alabama Rural Water Association water taste test, held earlier this month during the ARWA's annual conference. Fairhope was the winner.

The announcement met with applause as council members asked Swindall to place a sign recognizing the award in front of the council dais.

A panel of judges, which included representatives of such groups as the Alabama Cattlemen Association, USDA Rural Development and the Alabama Agribusiness Council considered taste, clarity and odor when making their decision.

A utility is only eligible to enter the Taste Test competition if they meet Alabama Department of Environmental Management approval by having no bacteriological or chemical monitoring violations.